Nepal cricket achieved another historic landmark last night, defeating two-time world champions West Indies by 90 runs in Sharjah to seal a landmark T20I series victory.
The result not only gave Nepal an unassailable 2–0 lead in the three-match series, underlining their remarkable rise in international cricket, but also registered another nadir for the once-mighty West Indies.
Batting first, Nepal posted a strong total of 173 for 6 in their 20 overs. Opener Aasif Sheikh anchored the innings with a composed 68*, while Sundeep Jora added a brisk 63. Their partnership laid the foundation for Nepal to put the West Indies under pressure right from the start.
Chasing 174, West Indies never found their rhythm and collapsed to a mere 83 all out. Jason Holder (21), Hakeem Auguste (17), and Ameer Jangoo (16) offered some resistance, but the rest of the batting line-up fell cheaply against Nepal’s disciplined attack.
This victory, Nepal’s second in a row against the West Indies, not only handed them the series but also marked a defining moment for Associate cricket. It is the first time Nepal has beaten a Full Member in a bilateral T20I series. Before Nepal, only the UAE had achieved this feat, defeating Bangladesh earlier this year.
Nepal’s 90-run win is now the largest victory margin by an Associate nation over a Full Member in T20Is, surpassing Afghanistan’s previous record of 81 runs against Zimbabwe in 2016. Meanwhile, West Indies’ total of 83 is among the lowest ever recorded by a Test-playing nation against an Associate side.
For a team still finding its feet among the game’s elite, defeating a Full Member team of West Indies’ stature twice in succession is a statement that Nepal are no longer to be taken lightly. While the team may have missed out on the 2025 Asia Cup, this victory points toward a bright future for Nepal, at least when it comes to cricket.